Even a little noise can cause high stress, study says

Low-level noise in open-style offices results in higher levels of stress and lower task motivation, according to a new study by a Cornell University environmental psychologist.

Surprisingly, experienced workers in these mildly noisy offices make fewer ergonomic adjustments to their work stations than do workers in quiet offices.

These findings suggest that even moderately noisy open offices might contribute significantly to health problems such as heart disease (due to elevated levels of epinephrine, a stress hormone) and musculoskeletal problems, said Gary Evans, a professor of design and environmental analysis at Cornell. Evans is an authority on environmental stress such as noise and crowding.

The study was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology.